Daniel Gagnier

Mr. Dan Gagnier was Chief of Staff to former Quebec Premier Jean Charest, a post he held in 2012 and from 2007 to 2009.

He became an IISD board member in 2004 and then served as Board Chair from 2005 to 2015.

Mr. Gagnier was formerly Alcan Inc.’s senior vice president, Corporate and External Affairs. In this position, his responsibilities included corporate communications, government relations and environment, health and safety. Mr. Gagnier was appointed vice president, Corporate Affairs with Alcan in December 1994 and in 1995 his responsibilities were expanded to include environment, occupational health and safety issues for Alcan on a worldwide basis.

Prior to joining Alcan in 1994, Mr. Gagnier held a number of positions with the governments of Canada, Ontario and Saskatchewan. From 1972 to 1982, the Department of External Affairs posted him overseas to diplomatic assignments in Mexico, Yugoslavia and the United Kingdom, as well as to functions in Ottawa.

From 1988 to 1990, he worked for the Ontario government in Toronto as deputy minister of energy; deputy minister of intergovernmental affairs; special adviser to the Cabinet; and chief of staff of the Premier’s Office. Following this period at Queen’s Park, Mr. Gagnier returned once again to Ottawa, where he served as deputy secretary to the Cabinet (Communications) and adviser at the Privy Council Office until 1992. From 1992 to 1994, he was president of the Brewers Association of Canada.

Mr. Gagnier was Chair of the International Organization for Standardization’s technical committee on Environmental Management (ISO/TC 207). Mr. Gagnier is the past Chairman, Board of Directors, for the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, past chair of the Canadian Standards Association, and past chair of the International Emissions Trading Association.